Argentina fans call for replay of World Cup final against Spain
24.07.2026
A petition calling for a replay of the recent FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and Spain has garnered significant support, accumulating 88,915 signatures. The online campaign was initiated by Argentine supporter Gisela Sánchez on Change.org, following Spain’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium.
The petition alleges that the match was influenced by controversial refereeing decisions and calls on FIFA to review the performance of Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić. Sánchez claims Vinčić delivered a “controversial and corrupt” performance during the final, which saw Ferran Torres score the winning goal for Spain in the 106th minute of extra time.
Allegations of Controversial Officiating
The petition states that the final was “tarnished by the controversial and corrupt performance of the referee who, according to video evidence, was bought to influence the match’s outcome.” It further argues that allowing such alleged corruption to go unnoticed on a global stage sets a negative precedent for future generations of athletes and fans. The campaign urges FIFA to seriously and transparently review the incidents and consider replaying the final without the influence of a corrupt referee.
However, the petition does not offer independently verified evidence to substantiate these claims, beyond videos circulating on social media that the organizer suggests favour Spain. Despite these allegations, Spain was widely considered to have been the superior team throughout the final match.
Luis de la Fuente’s team maintained control of possession for extended periods, pushing Argentina deep into their own half. Argentina, the defending champions, did not register a single shot on target during normal time. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez made several crucial saves to keep Argentina in contention before Torres’s decisive goal.
Argentina’s challenge in the final was made more difficult when midfielder Enzo Fernández received a red card in the third minute of stoppage time at the end of normal play. Fernández, who had previously been booked for dissent after a denied free-kick, received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on Spain defender Pau Cubarsí, reducing Lionel Scaloni’s side to ten men before extra time commenced.
Match statistics indicate that referee Vinčić awarded 46 fouls during the final, with Argentina committing 25 of them, contributing to a fragmented game.
Post-Match Incidents and Previous Petitions
Frustration among the Argentine players escalated after the final whistle. Immediately following Spain’s confirmation as world champions, incidents occurred on the pitch. Leandro Paredes was sent off after the match due to clashes involving Eric García and Gavi. Additionally, Nahuel Molina reportedly contributed to the confrontation after confronting Spain captain Rodri. These post-match incidents are currently under a separate disciplinary review by FIFA.
Former England defender Gary Neville, speaking during ITV’s coverage, openly criticized Argentina’s conduct, describing it as a “disgrace.” He acknowledged the competitiveness of Argentine players but expressed strong disapproval of their behaviour in recent games.
This petition is not the first of its kind during the tournament. Earlier, following Spain’s semi-final victory over France, French supporters launched a similar Change.org petition. That campaign disputed a controversial incident that led to the opening penalty and gathered more than 82,000 signatures, though it did not alter FIFA’s official result. There is currently no indication that the latest petition will lead to a change in the outcome of the World Cup final.
Conversely, Change.org has also hosted petitions with opposing viewpoints. One campaign advocating for Argentina to be banned from future World Cups reportedly amassed over 29 million signatures before being closed. Despite the online debate, thousands of Argentine supporters gathered across the country to welcome their team home, acknowledging their achievement in reaching a second consecutive World Cup final.
The petition, initiated by Gisela Sánchez, demands that FIFA review the calls made during the final.
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Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.